Quotations of the day

"All this stuff that happens outside never makes any difference to us... The Coalition has never made any difference for the fighting brigades. They brought some flour and some canned goods but have never done more than that." — Syrian rebel fighter Firas Filefleh, reacting to the resignation of the Syrian National Coalition's leader.

___

"It's not that we won a battle, but we really have avoided a disastrous exit from the eurozone. A long period of uncertainty and insecurity surrounding the Cyprus economy has ended." — Cyprus' Finance Minister Michalis Sarris, after Cyprus secured a 10 billion euro ($13 billion) package of loans that saved it from bankruptcy.

___

"Most Americans, in my view, believe that everyone has a right to a fair trial. When people have lawyers that are either under-resourced or ill trained, they do not get a fair trial." — Ron Sullivan, director of Harvard Law School's criminal justice program, on budget cuts critics say will lay off or furlough public defenders.